SON THRASHED

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23284, 1 March 1939, Page 14

SON THRASHED

FATHER IN COURT SALT RUBBED IN CUTS EVIDENCE BY POLICE REMANDED FOR SENTENCE Charged with assaulting his son, Edward James Arthur Hopkins, a motorlorry driver, Noah Gilbert Hopkins pleaded guilty in the Police Gourt yesterday before Mr. C. 11. Orr Walker, S.M. Sub-Inspector J. Fox, who prosecuted, described it as a "very brutal kind of assault." Sub-Inspector Fox said the boy was under 14 years of age. Constable R. P. Boag, of New Lynn, last Friday was inquiring concerning a bicycle, and he desired to interview two of the accused's sons. That night the two boys, one of whom was the boy assaulted, disappeared from home and one of them slept out that night. Accused called on the constable on Saturday with one bov and said he was going to make inquiries, about his other son, continued Sub-Inspector Fox. Accused found tlio other boy on Sunday and took him home. Razor Strop Used After he arrived home the bo\ T took off his shirt to wash, said Mr. Fox. Accused then got a razor strop, and with the double end of it he thrashed his son very severely, leaving cuts, bruises and weals. Accused told Constable Boag on Monday that he had found the boy and dealt with him in his own way. The constable went to accused's house and found the boy in bed. A doctor was called.

"In addition to giving this bo.v the thrashing," continued Mr. Fox, "the accused got his other boy to got some salt, and this the accused rubbed on tho wounds, adding to the already severe pain. Later he got the other boy to wash the salt off. The accused explained that he was told by a woman that boys in the Borstal were thrashed as soon as they arrived there and salt rubbed into the cuts. This, of course, is nonsense." • Statement Handed In Mr. Fox then handed to tho magistrate a lengthy statement made by the accused to Constable Boag, saying that he did not propose to read it in Court as there were matters contained in it which would probably show an inherent weakness in the accused. The boy's back and shoulders were shown to the magistrate. Mr. Orr Walker: The question is whether these boys are safe to bo with this man. Mr. Fox said the accused had certainly been having trouble with his boys. The magistrate said he was wondering as to the accused's mentality Accused said lie did not want, his boys to be taken from him. If it was going to make his boys any better, the magistrate could give him as many years in gaol as he liked. He did not want them to get into prison. The magistrate remanded accused until Friday for sentence, and made an order for him to be placed under medical observation in the meantime.